Ohio History Journal

THE CHARITY SCHOOL OF KENDAL

Edited by HARLOW LINDLEY

The discovery of an "Agreement between Adam W. Helden-

brand and the Charity School of Kendal," dated November 27,

1863, has aroused interest to learn more about this Ohio educa-

tional institution and the unique contract enacted there.

In the winter of 1810-11, one Thomas Rotch left Hartford,

Connecticut, and explored Ohio as far south and west as Cincin-

nati, Springfield and Urbana. On this trip Rotch made notes

about the physical features of the State and devoted considerable

attention to the mounds which he visited, recording valuable no-

tations on these. The families of both Thomas Rotch and Char-

ity Rodman Rotch were prominent in financial and business inter-

ests in New England, and the trip was undertaken on the advice

of Mrs. Rotch's physician, who thought a change of climate neces-

sary for her.

In making this move, Rotch was interested in finding a suit-

able place for the raising of sheep and the building of mills. In

September, 1811, he and his wife moved to Ohio, bringing with

him 400 Merino sheep. He settled in Stark County after buying

2,500 acres of land and in 1812 laid out the town of Kendal

which is now included in the city of Massillon.

Charity Rotch, who had traveled in the East, was much

interested in the improvement of mankind, especially in the wel-

fare of children. In the laying out of Kendal she obtained five

lots in the village for the location of a school in which she ex-

pected to develop her ideas. Thomas Rotch died in 1823 and

Mrs. Rotch the following year. By his will, Thomas gave his

wife all his personal property and the use and income of his real

estate during her life. He also willed $5,000 to the Ohio Yearly

Meeting of the Society of Friends to be used in the establishment

of a Yearly Meeting Friends School. This school was finally

opened at Mount Pleasant as the Friends Boarding School in

1837 and was later moved to Barnesville, Ohio, where it is still

183

CHARITY SCHOOL OF KENDAL 185

Isaac Bowman, William Henry and James W. Lathrop were

appointed trustees. Two years later, November 7, 1828, they

entered into a contract for the opening of the school on January

1, 1829.

The rules for the management of the school were most lib-

eral for since its inception the board of trustees was composed of

men and women noted for their love of learning and broad ideas

of the training of the young. A supposition prevailed that the

scholarships were limited to Stark County, but this was not true.

Children possessing the qualifications required by the rules were

admitted from any state in the Union. No preference was given

to locality, nationality or religion, and as vacancies occurred, ap-

plicants were immediately admitted in the order of their priority, it

being the desire of the trustees to keep the membership full at all

times in order to extend the benefits of the school to the utmost.

Owing to the small amount of funds at their command, the enroll-

ment was limited to twenty-eight and was equally divided between

the sexes. It was designed to admit only children who were

orphans, half orphans, or whose parents were poor, irresponsible

or infirm. It was not supposed that it was the intention of Mrs.

Rotch to make the school either a reformatory for criminals or a

hospital for the sick; hence children of depraved morals or dis-

eased bodies were not admitted.

The conditions required for admission to the school were

that the applicant must be between ten and sixteen years of age,

sound in body and in mind, of fair moral character and destitute

of means for maintenance and education elsewhere. The par-

ents, guardians, or other persons claiming any right of control

over the child were required to sign an agreement waiving all such

rights, and consenting that the trustees and teachers have ex-

clusive control, management and education of the pupil until he

or she reached the age of eighteen.

The trustees on their part agreed to feed, clothe, and care

properly for the children during the term of the indenture, free

of expense, and at its conclusion to furnish the pupil with plain

but sufficient clothing so that he or she might go out into the

186 OHIO ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL QUARTERLY

world and earn a living. The trustees reserved the right to

terminate the agreement or dismiss the child at any time.

The boys were required to assist in the work of the farm,

and the girls with the housework, devoting an average of six

hours a day to such work except on Sundays. Eight hours

every night were allowed for sleep. An average of six hours a

day was devoted to study and the remainder of the time to recre-

ation. The superintendent and the matron had to regard these

rules closely for the trustees required rigid enforcement. The

children were free at all times to approach the trustees with com-

plaints of either real or fancied wrongs. It was the chief desire

of the trustees to bring up the children as brothers and sisters of

one big, happy family, and to pour into their unfortunate lives the

bright sunshine of love.

The school opened with fifteen pupils and was kept going

for four years after which it was found that the income from

the endowment was insufficient to continue longer so the school

was forced to close. In 1834, the trustees purchased a farm just

north of Kendal. A brick schoolhouse was built there and in

June, 1844, the school was reopened. For forty-four years the

school remained in continuous operation although during that

time it passed through many vicissitudes and in 1888 it had to

close for a period of three years. In 1891 it was opened again

and continued until 1910. Then for a period of eight or ten

years, the school and farm were leased to the Summit County

Children's Home after which it remained vacant until 1924 when

the property was sold. For some years the school fund has

partly supported the Children's Bureau of Stark County, the

Opportunity School of Massillon and has supplied a fund upon

which the truant officer may draw for supplying needy children

with shoes, clothes, glasses, etc., as the occasion requires.

Arvine Wales I, who accompanied Thomas Rotch when he

moved to Ohio, was made one of his heirs. During the entire

history of the Charity School there has always been a Wales on

the Board of Trustees of the endowment.

The site of the school after it was re-opened on the farm

bought in 1834 is marked by a stone boulder which states, "This

CHARITY SCHOOL OF KENDAL 187

marker marks the spot of the Charity Rotch School and farm

provided by her will of 1824. School opened in 1826 and opened

on this spot in 1842. Closed in 1924."

THE CHARITY SCHOOL OF KENDAL AND

ADAM W. HELDENBRAND

AGREEMENT

It is agreed this Twenty Seventh day of November Eighteen Hundred

and Sixty three between The Charity School of Kendal and Adam W.

Heldenbrand as follows, Said Heldenbrand agrees to serve as Superintendent

of said School for the period of Three years from the First day of April

next. To furnish such pupils as the Trustees may admit to said School with

abundant, plain, and wholesome food, and with clothing neat, comfortable,

and in kind and quantity sufficient and suitable for the season. Said Helden-

brand also agrees to do all the washing and ironing necessary for the

pupils and at his own expense, furnish all the beds bedding and furniture,

tools and stock of all kinds that may be necessary for the carrying on of

the School and farm: Also all books and stationary and lights: and to

prepare on the land of said 'Charity School and haul all the firewood. It is

agreed that said Charity School shall pay at the Bank for all coal consumed,

and that said Heldenbrand shall haul the same. Said Heldenbrand shall also

furnish all medicines and medical and other attendance as may be necessary

for the pupils, and such other necessaries as the health and comfort of said

pupils may require. It is further understood that the maximum number of

pupils to be maintained at said School at any one time shall be Thirty of

whom as nearly as may be one half shall be boys, and the other half girls.

These said Heldenbrand shall instruct in all the branches of a good com-

mon English education (so far as the capacity of the pupil may admit)

including Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, Grammar, Geography, Vocal Music,

History, Natural and Moral Philosophy (and for the boys) the rudimentary

principles of Agriculture. He shall also teach them the principles and habits

of personal cleanliness and propriety, -- of industry, good morals and econ-

omy. It is also agreed that as a part of their education the boys shall receive

instruction in the ordinary practices of good farming and the girls in the

customary duties of housewifery. It is further agreed that throughout the

year the pupils shall be allowed daily Eight full hours for sleep: And that

the following portion of the pupils' time shall be devoted to manuel labor,

viz. From the First of November to the First of March Five hours each

day. From the First of May till the First of September Eight hours each

day: and during the Months of March, April, September and October Six

hours each day. And the ballance of the pupils' time shall be devoted to

study, instruction recreation etc.

It is further agreed that at any time should any of the pupils run away

or escape from said School without leave it shall be the duty of the Super-

188 OHIO ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL QUARTERLY

intendent to use all reasonable means to recover them. The Charity School

reimbursing him for all his necessary travelling expenses while so engaged.

It is further agreed that the Trustees shall at all times have the right to

make all reasonable rules for the management of said School. And should

the general management and conduct of said School at any time be such

as not to be satisfactory to the Board of Trustees, or to any Board of Visi-

tors that may be appointed by the Court it shall be the duty of the Super-

intendent upon proper Notice given to him specifying the defect in the

management so to reform the same, that it shall be satisfactory as afore-

said: and in case of his neglect or refusal to do so for the period of one

month The Charity School of Kendal reserves to itself the right to ter-

minate this Agreement on the First day of April next following the giving

of such Notice. It is further agreed that the wheat now growing in the

ground shall be harvested and threshed by said Heldenbrand, and that he

shall deliver one half of the same on the land to Ira M. Allen, retaining

the other half for his own use. And it is further understood and agreed

that whenever said Heldenbrand shall leave the School he shall have a right

to put out a crop of wheat not exceeding Fortyfive acres in extent upon

the same terms as those upon which Mr Allen sowed the present growing

wheat crop. Said Heldenbrand agrees to farm the land belonging to said

School in a good and husbandmanlike manner -- not overtaking the same,

to do no unnecessary damage to the buildings fences and fixtures, but to

keep them and the whole farm in as neat and seemly condition as may be.

In consideration whereof The Charity School of Kendal agrees that said

Heldenbrand shall have the use of farm (subject to Mr Allens interest in

the growing wheat crop as aforesaid) during such time as he shall serve as

Superintendent as aforesaid: And also of the Forty acre wood lot belonging

to said School for the purpose of procuring firewood. The Charity School

of Kendal further agrees to pay said Heldenbrand the sum of Fifteen Hun-

dred Dollars per year in quarterly payments as nearly as may be. Provided

however that when the number of pupils in said school shall fall below the

maximum number of Thirty said School shall have a right to deduct from

said sum of Fifteen Hundred Dollars a sum at the rate of Forty Dollars

per annum for each pupil less than Thirty that shall attend said School.

And for the purpose of ascertaining the number in attendance the Superin-

tendent shall keep an accurate Register, and shall at the expiration of each

quarter furnish the Treasurer of the Board of Trustees with a correct

statement of the number of pupils in attendance and the exact time (if a

part of a quarter only) each pupil has attended. In testimony whereof the

parties hereto have executed this Agreement in two counterparts The Char-

ity School of Kendal subscribing itself by the hand of Arvine C. Wales its

committeeman thereunto duly appointed this day and year first above

written

The Charity School of Kendal

By Arvine C. Wales of Committee

A. W. Heldenbrand